Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 05:38 PM.

Allegations toward Cannon include soliciting and accepting bribes and items of value in exchange for his official position, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Cannon accepted and solicited bribes from undercover FBI agents posed as commercial real estate developers and investors, according to the justice department. Some of the bribes included $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and a luxury apartment.

It’s the latest in a string of government scandals in the region – including several police officers and a former utilities director being sentenced for corruption incidents in recent weeks – that have decreased the public’s trust in its officials.

But trust in government has long been declining for Americans, starting with the 1972 Watergate scandal, according to Gardner-Webb University professor Dr. Ben Gaskins.

“Scholars have been looking into government distrust for some time. Some of the cause to the distrust is the media,” Gaskins said. “People know more about dirty law with cable news and Twitter. Any scandal that reeks of wrongdoing gets played up and has a lot of attention.”

“The fact is that any time something like this happens, it further raises people’s suspicions,” said Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony. “It’s very frustrating.”

How can such issues be avoided in Cleveland County?

All North Carolina elected officials go through ethics training, Anthony said.

“The mayor position in Shelby doesn’t have near the power in a community like ours,” Anthony said, comparing the job to the Charlotte mayoral position. “Our elected folks have been through pretty intensive training of what you can do and can’t do. Taking any kind of money is highly illegal.”

Local officials should know the difference between right and wrong, and should do the right thing, said Kings Mountain Mayor Rick Murphrey.

“I take the accountability and responsibility of the job and public trust very seriously,” Murphrey said. “In the worldly world, I ground life’s daily journey in my faith and family values.”

How can trust in government be rebuilt?

“I don’t know if Cannon’s scandal will have a huge effect with distrust,” Gaskins said. “I think most will see this as one more politician that is corrupt.”

The public trusts the government if the economic climate is better, he said.

“Most Americans will tolerate some corruption as long as the economy is doing well,” Gaskins said. “If the economy is doing well, people have jobs and lifestyles are doing well, there is more trust.”

The Star asked Facebook fans if they trusted local government officials and how officials could earn their trust. Here is what they had to say:

None! Even Cleveland County Officals! It's always the same ones running for office. The good old boys motto is "You wash my back, I'll wash yours."

-Linda Whisnant

I do not trust any political figure

-Brenda Jenkins

Arrested. Not guilty of anything at this point. Why wouldn't I trust someone that hasn't proven they aren't worthy of my trust?

-Larry Kennedy

That's what Charlotte gets for not voting for Edwin Peacock. You may not get a perfect candidate, but voting for a conservative over a liberal is always a good bet.

Allegations toward Cannon include soliciting and accepting bribes and items of value in exchange for his official position, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Cannon accepted and solicited bribes from undercover FBI agents posed as commercial real estate developers and investors, according to the justice department. Some of the bribes included $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and a luxury apartment.

It’s the latest in a string of government scandals in the region – including several police officers and a former utilities director being sentenced for corruption incidents in recent weeks – that have decreased the public’s trust in its officials.

But trust in government has long been declining for Americans, starting with the 1972 Watergate scandal, according to Gardner-Webb University professor Dr. Ben Gaskins.

“Scholars have been looking into government distrust for some time. Some of the cause to the distrust is the media,” Gaskins said. “People know more about dirty law with cable news and Twitter. Any scandal that reeks of wrongdoing gets played up and has a lot of attention.”

“The fact is that any time something like this happens, it further raises people’s suspicions,” said Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony. “It’s very frustrating.”

How can such issues be avoided in Cleveland County?

All North Carolina elected officials go through ethics training, Anthony said.

“The mayor position in Shelby doesn’t have near the power in a community like ours,” Anthony said, comparing the job to the Charlotte mayoral position. “Our elected folks have been through pretty intensive training of what you can do and can’t do. Taking any kind of money is highly illegal.”

Local officials should know the difference between right and wrong, and should do the right thing, said Kings Mountain Mayor Rick Murphrey.

“I take the accountability and responsibility of the job and public trust very seriously,” Murphrey said. “In the worldly world, I ground life’s daily journey in my faith and family values.”

How can trust in government be rebuilt?

“I don’t know if Cannon’s scandal will have a huge effect with distrust,” Gaskins said. “I think most will see this as one more politician that is corrupt.”

The public trusts the government if the economic climate is better, he said.

“Most Americans will tolerate some corruption as long as the economy is doing well,” Gaskins said. “If the economy is doing well, people have jobs and lifestyles are doing well, there is more trust.”

The Star asked Facebook fans if they trusted local government officials and how officials could earn their trust. Here is what they had to say:

None! Even Cleveland County Officals! It's always the same ones running for office. The good old boys motto is "You wash my back, I'll wash yours."

-Linda Whisnant

I do not trust any political figure

-Brenda Jenkins

Arrested. Not guilty of anything at this point. Why wouldn't I trust someone that hasn't proven they aren't worthy of my trust?

-Larry Kennedy

That's what Charlotte gets for not voting for Edwin Peacock. You may not get a perfect candidate, but voting for a conservative over a liberal is always a good bet.